Patents by Inventor Kevin S. Barker

Kevin S. Barker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210019313
    Abstract: Managing answers in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of answers into a first answer category and a second set of answers into a second answer category. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include determining, using the subject matter, a first category sequence including the first answer category and the second answer category, and establishing, based on the first category sequence, a first answer sequence established from a portion of the first set of answers from the first answer category and a portion of the second set of answers from the second answer category.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 10885025
    Abstract: Managing answers in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of answers into a first answer category and a second set of answers into a second answer category. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include determining, using the subject matter, a first category sequence including the first answer category and the second answer category, and establishing, based on the first category sequence, a first answer sequence established from a portion of the first set of answers from the first answer category and a portion of the second set of answers from the second answer category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20180322121
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward discovering and generating answer sequences. Aspects are directed toward parsing, by a natural language processing technique configured to analyze syntactic and semantic content, a corpus of data for a subject matter. Aspects are also directed toward detecting a first set of answers including a first answer corresponding to a first answer category and a second set of answers including a second answer corresponding to a second answer category. Both the first and the second answer categories may relate to the subject matter. Aspects are also directed toward identifying a first set of ordering data for the first set of answers and the second set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward determining a first answer sequence corresponding to an order of the first set of answers and the second set of answers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri
  • Patent number: 9946747
    Abstract: Managing confidence data in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing confidence data can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of a plurality of answers into a first answer category. The first set can correspond to at least one of a third set of a plurality of confidence scores and the second set can correspond to at least one of a fourth set of the plurality of confidence scores. Managing confidence data can include classifying confidence scores of the third set into one of a plurality of confidence buckets using a first threshold and determining a fifth set of a plurality of thresholds using the plurality of confidence scores. Managing confidence data can include classifying unclassified confidence scores of the third set into one of the plurality of confidence buckets using the fifth set of the plurality of thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Roberto DeLima, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, Marie L. Setnes
  • Patent number: 9720963
    Abstract: Managing confidence data in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing confidence data can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of a plurality of answers into a first answer category. The first set can correspond to at least one of a third set of a plurality of confidence scores and the second set can correspond to at least one of a fourth set of the plurality of confidence scores. Managing confidence data can include classifying confidence scores of the third set into one of a plurality of confidence buckets using a first threshold and determining a fifth set of a plurality of thresholds using the plurality of confidence scores. Managing confidence data can include classifying unclassified confidence scores of the third set into one of the plurality of confidence buckets using the fifth set of the plurality of thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Roberto DeLima, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, Marie L. Setnes
  • Patent number: 9679051
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward evaluating an answer sequence. Aspects are directed toward receiving a set of answer sequences including a first answer sequence. The first answer sequence may have a first set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward identifying a set of scores coupled with the first set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on a subject matter corresponding to the first answer sequence, a set of evaluation rules. Aspects are also directed toward generating, based on the set of scores and the set of evaluation rules, a sequence evaluation score for the first answer sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian
  • Patent number: 9501525
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward evaluating an answer sequence. Aspects are directed toward receiving a set of answer sequences including a first answer sequence. The first answer sequence may have a first set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward identifying a set of scores coupled with the first set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on a subject matter corresponding to the first answer sequence, a set of evaluation rules. Aspects are also directed toward generating, based on the set of scores and the set of evaluation rules, a sequence evaluation score for the first answer sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian
  • Publication number: 20160125751
    Abstract: Managing answers in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of answers into a first answer category and a second set of answers into a second answer category. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include determining, using the subject matter, a first category sequence including the first answer category and the second answer category, and establishing, based on the first category sequence, a first answer sequence established from a portion of the first set of answers from the first answer category and a portion of the second set of answers from the second answer category.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20160125298
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward evaluating an answer sequence. Aspects are directed toward receiving a set of answer sequences including a first answer sequence. The first answer sequence may have a first set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward identifying a set of scores coupled with the first set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on a subject matter corresponding to the first answer sequence, a set of evaluation rules. Aspects are also directed toward generating, based on the set of scores and the set of evaluation rules, a sequence evaluation score for the first answer sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian
  • Publication number: 20160124963
    Abstract: Managing confidence data in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing confidence data can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of a plurality of answers into a first answer category. The first set can correspond to at least one of a third set of a plurality of confidence scores and the second set can correspond to at least one of a fourth set of the plurality of confidence scores. Managing confidence data can include classifying confidence scores of the third set into one of a plurality of confidence buckets using a first threshold and determining a fifth set of a plurality of thresholds using the plurality of confidence scores. Managing confidence data can include classifying unclassified confidence scores of the third set into one of the plurality of confidence buckets using the fifth set of the plurality of thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Roberto DeLima, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, Marie L. Setnes
  • Publication number: 20160125437
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward discovering and generating answer sequences. Aspects are directed toward parsing, by a natural language processing technique configured to analyze syntactic and semantic content, a corpus of data for a subject matter. Aspects are also directed toward detecting a first set of answers including a first answer corresponding to a first answer category and a second set of answers including a second answer corresponding to a second answer category. Both the first and the second answer categories may relate to the subject matter. Aspects are also directed toward identifying a first set of ordering data for the first set of answers and the second set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward determining a first answer sequence corresponding to an order of the first set of answers and the second set of answers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri
  • Publication number: 20160125064
    Abstract: Managing confidence data in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing confidence data can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of a plurality of answers into a first answer category. The first set can correspond to at least one of a third set of a plurality of confidence scores and the second set can correspond to at least one of a fourth set of the plurality of confidence scores. Managing confidence data can include classifying confidence scores of the third set into one of a plurality of confidence buckets using a first threshold and determining a fifth set of a plurality of thresholds using the plurality of confidence scores. Managing confidence data can include classifying unclassified confidence scores of the third set into one of the plurality of confidence buckets using the fifth set of the plurality of thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Roberto DeLima, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, Marie L. Setnes
  • Publication number: 20160124951
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward discovering and generating answer sequences. Aspects are directed toward parsing, by a natural language processing technique configured to analyze syntactic and semantic content, a corpus of data for a subject matter. Aspects are also directed toward detecting a first set of answers including a first answer corresponding to a first answer category and a second set of answers including a second answer corresponding to a second answer category. Both the first and the second answer categories may relate to the subject matter. Aspects are also directed toward identifying a first set of ordering data for the first set of answers and the second set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward determining a first answer sequence corresponding to an order of the first set of answers and the second set of answers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri
  • Publication number: 20160125063
    Abstract: Managing answers in a question-answering environment is disclosed. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include sorting, based on a set of answer categories for a subject matter, a first set of answers into a first answer category and a second set of answers into a second answer category. Managing answers in the question-answering environment can include determining, using the subject matter, a first category sequence including the first answer category and the second answer category, and establishing, based on the first category sequence, a first answer sequence established from a portion of the first set of answers from the first answer category and a portion of the second set of answers from the second answer category.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian, John E. Petri, Michael D. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20160125750
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward evaluating an answer sequence. Aspects are directed toward receiving a set of answer sequences including a first answer sequence. The first answer sequence may have a first set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward identifying a set of scores coupled with the first set of answers. Aspects are also directed toward determining, based on a subject matter corresponding to the first answer sequence, a set of evaluation rules. Aspects are also directed toward generating, based on the set of scores and the set of evaluation rules, a sequence evaluation score for the first answer sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, Thomas J. Eggebraaten, Mark G. Megerian
  • Publication number: 20080319809
    Abstract: A system and method for establishing and maintaining a contract between a business process model and a monitoring module corresponding to a portion of the business process model is disclosed. In the modeling task, a contract is established and associated with an event in the business process flow. The contract specifies a relationship between the event within the business process model and a monitoring module that is configured to monitor the event. Therefore, if changes are made to the event or process, a user will be warned that the changes may affect an existing monitoring module that exists to monitor this process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael W. Brown, Eric N. Herness, Kevin S. Barker, Stefan G. Derdak
  • Patent number: 7240326
    Abstract: CIM elements are retrieved from the management definition object and a determination is made as to whether the element is a non-instance element or an instance element. If the element is a non-instance element and a qualifier is found in the management object, then the corresponding name is used. If the qualifier is not found, then the CIM element name is used. If the element is an instance element and a qualifier is found then the name corresponding to the qualifier is used. If there is no qualifier then a determination is made as to the number of non-propagated key properties. If there is one non-propagated key property then the value of the property is used. If there are more than one non-propagated key properties, then a display name is constructed from each non-propagated key property and its corresponding value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, John E. Diller, Margaret M. Hedstrom, Carol J. Persche, Mohamad R. Salahshoor, James Thorpe
  • Patent number: 7191404
    Abstract: A generic management definition object, described using a CIM MOF file or an Extensible Markup Language document, can be used to format display panels that are independent of a management console. A generic integration layer is created between the management data and the display and behavior of such data. A transformation engine is used to convert data definitions included in management data to a formatted structure that is stored in a repository. A translation engine renders the formatted structure into graphical user interface constructs that are independent of any particular management console architecture. The transformation and translation engines coordinate a set of processes that facilitate the display and manipulation of the management data object's data model. GUI display panels that support the management model are generated in a console neutral manner so that the same panels are displayed from a variety of management consoles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, John E. Diller, James L. Gay, Margaret M. Hedstrom, Carol J. Persche, Mohamad R. Salahshoor, John W. Sweitzer, James Thorpe
  • Patent number: 7177793
    Abstract: NLS translations can be provided by extracting translatable strings from the management definition object, such as a CIM MOF file, and writing the strings into one or more translation files. A unique identifier is assigned to each translatable string. The identifier is included in the management definition object as well as the various translation files. By creating unique identifiers, a particular translated string can be found in one of the translation files. In this manner, different users can specify different languages. Display text is retrieved by retrieving the identifier located in the management definition object. The translation file corresponding to the user's preferred language is then searched for the translated string. Translated strings can be gathered for display panels when the product is packaged. Translated strings can also be gathered at runtime when called for by a particular display panel or other display object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, John E. Diller, Margaret M. Hedstrom, Carol J. Persche, Mohamad R. Salahshoor, James Thorpe
  • Patent number: 7065744
    Abstract: A system and method for converting management models to specific console interfaces is provided. A plug-in builder process is used to read a management definition object. The plug-in builder process derives display information and method information from the management definition object. Console interface information is used to take the management definition object and transform it into a format suitable for the selected consoles. The management definition object information includes information used to display tree nodes in a management console. The plug-in builder process retrieves methods from the management definition object that corresponds to the displayed nodes. In this manner, when a user selects a tree node from a management console, the method included in the management definition object that was written to support the displayed node is executed. National language files can be used by the plug-in builder process in order to support various national languages used by users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin S. Barker, John E. Diller, James L. Gay, Margaret M. Hedstrom, Carol J. Persche, Mohamad R. Salahshoor, John W. Sweitzer, James Thorpe